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Blog Series 8: Bone broth and dried meat protein applications for pet foods


Following our article of meat and fish by-products correlate with the growth of premium, natural and healthy pet foods, in this blog post we will expand on how Coctio can help to generate additional profitable revenue streams from meat and fish bones by tapping into the market opportunity offered by the pet food industry. 

The Coctio broth line produces human grade bone broth for pet foods

This finest quality, natural human grade bone broth produced in a Coctio process is a protein-rich and healthy ingredient for wet and semi-moist pet food manufacturing. Due broth's nutritional content, digestible, palatability and clean labels, it is a powerful ingredient for the overall health and well-being of all pets. 

The broth is formulated to be used as meal toppers, nutritional gravies and drinks, special dietary foods and other premium treatment options for pets.

Currently, there's a little bone broth products for pets on the market which can make it an interesting segment especially considering its positive health aspect (endorsed by veterinarians) and the general market drive for 100% natural products.

The Coctio drying line produces high quality dried meat proteins for pet foods

The animal bone drying process generates a considerable amount of high quality cooked and dehydrated meat and fish produce as a consequence. As dried, this leftover, with a moisture level < 7%, has a higher concentration of proteins than whole meat or fish and comes in a granule format with a long shelf life (that can be stored at room temperature).

The dried meat and fish protein are added to dry pet food formula to boost the protein content and to enhance the taste of the meals.

Rendered products, an important ingredient in the pet food industry

There is an existing and important market for this type of rendered products in the pet food industry. The article "Rendered products remain quality feed ingredients" (April 2013 issue of Render Magazine, p. 22-25) deals with a topic of Greg Aldrich (President, Pet Food and Ingredient Technology, Inc.) who stated at the International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta in 2013 that ‘rendered protein meal represents a substantial portion of the high-quality protein and fat in modern companion animal diets - they are commonly included at 5% to 40% and can contribute in excess of 85% of the dietary protein’. If rendered ingredients were 20% of all pet food products, this would set the current demand at roughly 2.4 million tons in the US and at 1.8 million tons in Europe.

Currently a combined pork and beef meal (cheapest rendered product option) is highest in demand in Europe, followed by poultry meal (with little turkey and duck) and blended fish meal (a mixture of fish species). The current price for pork and beef meal is roughly €160 per ton. In the US, porcine meat and bone meal has been trading between $190 (€170) and $460 (€410) per ton this year, pet food grade poultry meal between $440 (€390) and $650 (€580) per ton, and fish meal (60% protein) between $1,335 (€1.190) and $1,437 (€1.280) per ton.* Rendered products generated from one type of animal (e.g. strictly salmon) are growing in popularity and are commanding premium prices.

*The provided data from the US Department of Agriculture; Feedstuffs.com.

Benefit from a premium product positioning

Coctio not only allows meat and fish processors to tap into this existing and attractive market, but also to profit from new opportunities generated by the growing pet food humanisation trend. The base elements are there to create premium ‘label friendly’ human grade rendered products from single type of quality meat or fish bones with the right nutritional content and palatability to meet the new requirements of pet food manufacturers.


Tanja Immonen October 7, 2016
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Blog Series 7: Meat and fish by-products provide high margin opportunities in pet food industry